A Sea Turtle Almost Died After It Was Pulled Out of the Ocean for Pictures

Now this photo-op is ​not​ OK.

Parents are known for forcing us into awkward photo ops on family vacations, but you don’t always have to comply. A sea turtle was gravely injured at Havana Beach in Beirut, Lebanon, last week after parents dragged it out of the ocean and forced their children to stand on it for a photo, reports The Dodo. One of the children even cried in protest.

Witnesses saw beachgoers hitting it on the head with a stick and stepping on it, Jason Mier, executive director of Animals Lebanon, told The Dodo. While he wasn't there when the incident took place, there were photos taken. "Luckily, other people were there who did care and stopped this and helped get the turtle to a safe area," he told The Dodo.

The sea turtle was left in critical condition, with damage specifically to the head, and has been relocated to a rehabilitation pool to heal from its injuries.

Unfortunately, this is just one of the recent tragic incidents involving animals, such as the baby dolphin who died mid-selfie in Argentina in February. Moral of the story: Animals aren’t cute props or toys for you to use at your leisure. They’re living, breathing, sentient organisms. So next time you encounter an animal in the wilderness, don’t think about how you can con it into a selfie — think about how you can respect its natural environment and contribute to its welfare.